Investigator - HR Investigations & UK Employment Law in Cambridge

Investigator – HR Investigations & UK Employment Law Division: Human Resources Contract: One-Year Fixed-Term Contract Salary: £42,254–£56,535 per annum Working Arrangement: Hybrid Start: January Reporting to: Head of HR Case Management Essential requirement: Strong, demonstrable knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application to complex workplace investigations. The Opportunity An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Investigator to join the Human Resources Division of a leading higher education institution. This role requires an investigator with a strong understanding of UK employment law, alongside proven experience managing complex, sensitive and high-risk investigations. The successful candidate will be confident applying relevant employment legislation, understanding procedural fairness and ensuring investigations are conducted in line with legal obligations, organisational policies and best practice. You will lead investigations into a range of serious and sensitive matters, including serious misconduct, sexual misconduct and allegations of behaviour that may constitute criminal offences. Your expertise in UK employment law will be essential in guiding investigation processes, identifying relevant legal considerations and producing robust findings that support fair, defensible and proportionate decision-making. This is an opportunity to apply specialist investigative expertise within a complex higher education environment, working with senior stakeholders to ensure that sensitive cases are managed professionally, consistently and lawfully. The Role You will manage a diverse caseload of complex investigations, taking responsibility for the end-to-end process, from initial assessment and evidence gathering through to analysis, reporting and the presentation of findings. A key aspect of the role will be applying your knowledge of UK employment law to workplace investigations, ensuring that processes are fair, evidence-based and procedurally sound. You will need to understand the legal and employee relations implications of allegations, recognise potential risks and ensure that investigation findings provide a robust foundation for subsequent decision-making. Your responsibilities will include: * Leading complex investigations into serious misconduct, sexual misconduct and other sensitive workplace matters. * Applying UK employment law and relevant organisational policies to investigation planning, evidence gathering and reporting. * Conducting impartial interviews, assessing credibility and analysing complex and sometimes conflicting evidence. * Producing clear, accurate, balanced and legally informed investigation reports for senior decision-makers. * Identifying procedural, legal and organisational risks and ensuring these are appropriately considered throughout the investigation process. * Managing cases involving vulnerable individuals with sensitivity, professionalism and an understanding of the impact of allegations on all parties. * Presenting findings and recommendations to senior stakeholders to support fair, consistent and proportionate outcomes. * Maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, impartiality and professional conduct. * Contributing to the continuous improvement of investigation processes, guidance and practice across the organisation. Essential Requirements: Strong knowledge of UK employment law is essential for this role. Candidates must be able to demonstrate how they have applied their legal knowledge in practice when managing complex workplace investigations. You will need to demonstrate: * Strong, demonstrable knowledge of UK employment law, including its application to disciplinary matters, misconduct allegations, workplace investigations and procedural fairness. * Proven experience conducting sensitive and complex investigations, including allegations of serious misconduct, sexual misconduct or behaviour that may constitute criminal offences. * The ability to identify relevant legal considerations, assess procedural risks and ensure investigations are conducted fairly, consistently and in accordance with applicable legislation and organisational policy. * Experience presenting investigation findings and reports to senior decision-makers. * Demonstrable specialist knowledge of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, including the impact on those reporting concerns and those subject to allegations. * Excellent interviewing